While I continue to be drawn down to the South coast, and regularly visit Hastings and St.Leonards, I have recently been reminded of how lovely Bexhill is.  I travelled home from a book reading with Gilli who said how charming Bexhill is and how it might be a good place to consider living.  So I went to take a look.  I think she may be on to something.  Bexhill seems charming, quaint and peaceful, particularly when compared to the craziness of Hastings and the faded grandeur of St.Leonards.

For the first visit, I took Harvey and we went with Lucy who by coincidence had been to Bexhill that week and was also pleasantly surprised by how lovely it was.  We strolled around the De La Warr Pavilion and then along the promenade.  Unlike Hastings and St.Leonards, where there is a road between the seafront houses and the promenade and beach, there are many houses in Bexhill with gardens directly on the promenade.  I could live in one of these!We also walked up to the Old Town which is like a rural village.  Very charming but not lively enough for what I am looking for so we headed back to the front.That was the first visit of many I have made since.  The following weekend I went to St.Leonard’s and was pleased to discover a mainly vegan cafe had opened on Norman Road.  They provide cow’s milk for coffee but the rest of their produce is vegan.  I had a fabulous chocolate cake with my coffee.  This is newly opened and I wish them well with their venture.

I strolled up Kings Road and bought some veggies in this shop and then pottered about the street market as by chance, it was the St.Leonard’s festival weekend.As usual I was drawn to the sea front.  The planting in St.Leonard’s is pretty so I enjoyed a walk along the front and then hopped over to Bexhill.

This time I walked away from the centre of Bexhill and headed West towards Eastbourne.  This is such a pretty promenade.Handy to know the rules about dogs on the beach.It seems so peaceful and quiet here but not isolated or lonely.

I sat and relaxed for ages, enjoying the sunshine and the soothing sounds of the waves on the beach.I would love a beach chalet on the beach!

After a long and lazy afternoon I headed home, all the happier for another jaunt to Bexhill.

So the following weekend I came back with Harvey and Milton.  Harvey BMXd and I walked with Milton.  Milton could not be persuaded in to the sea which is a shame as although it was overcast it was very warm.We moved along the coast to Hastings to see what Pirate’s Day was all about.

Wow!  So many people – men, women and children – dress up as pirates and the Old Town and promenade were heaving with people.

I think this chap, with the bird on his shoulder and his peg leg really was a pirate.I wouldn’t argue with this lot either.When the sun came out is was very hot; much too hot for Milton so we took him home.  Next year we will leave Milton at home and will hopefully be living in Hastings because I would like to experience Pirate’s Day properly.

This week I headed North rather then South, to Edinburgh.  I always stay in the Apex hotel on Grassmarket if I can and this time I was given a large room with 2 double beds.  What a waste being in there on my own.  I wished I had Lara and Harvey with me as we would have enjoyed a night together.

The last time I was here it was very cold and there were no chairs and tables on the street.I sat outside one of the restaurants and enjoyed a pizza and glass of wine with a colleague from the office.

This was the view I had of the castle from my hotel the next morning.I wish I had time to explore Edinburgh; the little I see of it every time I come is extremely appealing and I would love to see more of it.

Instead I enjoyed the 15 minute walk to the office in the sunshine.

Harvey broke up from school and began his summer holidays this Friday at midday.  So I took a day off, picked him up from school and took him to the pub.  Well, I hadn’t seen him since Sunday and we had a lot of catching up to do.  This pub was in Bexhill.

We did some shopping as Harvey needed swimming trunks and then went to Rocksalt-On-Sea (at 29 Marina, Bexhill)  for lunch which was very good.  I had a salad without the chorizo or goat’s cheese it was meant to come with and some chips.

With a very decent Sauvignon Blanc.

We then went to do something I have been wanting to do for several weeks – swim in the sea.  This was the first time I have swum in the sea all year and i really enjoyed it.  We both did.I also enjoyed relaxing and snoozing on the beach afterwards.  Despite the very warm day, there were only a few others on the beach at Bexhill as I think most people head to Hastings beach but I prefer the peace and quiet of Bexhill.

So there we are.  Bexhill rediscovered and somewhere I will keep returning to because we really like it.